A hamstring damage to Jos Buttler derailed England’s hopes of sealing their ODI collection in opposition to Sri Lanka, with the vacationers edging a high-scoring thriller by 16 runs at Headingley.
England had been left to chase 322 after a wonderful century from Kusal Mendis (121) lastly put the hosts underneath strain after 4 consecutive white-ball wins however gave the impression to be nicely on the way in which.
A gap stand of 143 between Ben Duckett and Tom Banton put them forward of the sport and Buttler was able to play the function of finisher when he collapsed clutching his left leg on 66 not out.
England wanted a modest 68 from 75 balls and had six wickets in hand when he retired harm however, by the point he hobbled again to the crease, the equation had tipped again in the direction of Sri Lanka, leaving 27 required from 14.
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Final-gasp gambit fails
Struggling to use any weight on the crease and barely in a position to limp between the wickets, his last-gasp gambit didn’t play off.
With Will Jacks gone for 52, Buttler eked out simply three extra painful singles earlier than holing out within the closing over chasing a six.
Sri Lanka’s gutsy win, which owed a lot to Dunith Wellalage’s game-changing three-wicket burst, squared the ledger at 1-1 and arrange a decider on the Kia Oval on Sunday.
The guests took first use of a pristine batting observe and placed on 45 earlier than Pathum Nissanka was pinned lbw by Gus Atkinson.
Had the Surrey man held on to Kusal early in his keep issues could have been considerably simpler for England, however he misinterpret a steepler off Jamie Overton.
PICTURES: Mike Egerton/PA
Ton for Mendis
From there, Sri Lanka discovered their toes.
They reached 100 within the twentieth over and added occasional flashes, Kamindu Mendis leaning again and dumping Overton into the Western Terrace and Kusal stroking Jacks handsomely into the group at long-on.
By the midway mark they had been motoring, Kusal taking 19 off Josh Tongue within the twenty fifth, however the returning Atkinson drew a mishit from Kamindu, who was nicely held by Brook on 54.
Mendis had a scare on 99 when he was incorrectly given caught behind off Overton, however safely chalked up his seventh ODI ton with a flowing drive.
Rehan Ahmed finally acquired him with an underpowered slog sweep that discovered deep midwicket, with Adil Rashid’s leg-spin understudy choosing off Charith Asalanka in comparable trend as the overall climbed north of 300.
Work to do with the bat
That left loads of work to do with the bat however Duckett and Banton threw themselves wholeheartedly into the problem.
The brand new ball work from Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka was unfastened, too typically serving width, with 82 runs and 14 boundaries pouring down within the 10-over powerplay.
Duckett was first to fifty in 44 balls however Banton overtook in fashion, clearing the ropes 3 times in eight deliveries and tearing into Sachindu Colombange.
The arrival of Wellalage stopped England of their tracks.
First Duckett misplaced his off stump for 67, then Banton was stumped for 73 after galloping down the observe and swiping recent air.
A stutter threatened to turn out to be a collapse when Wellalage had Brook lbw for one, with England shedding three for 14 to squander their early dominance.
Enormous blow
Buttler tried to hit the reset button, reclaiming the momentum with 26 runs in six deliveries – counter-attacking dangerman Wellalage and punishing Colombange.
However the latter landed an enormous blow of his personal when he tossed one up at Joe Root, who over-reached and popped a mild catch brief cowl.
Buttler dragged the goal down into double figures with two extra massive sixes and survived a troublesome probability caught and bowled probability on 63 when Wellalage’s dive was not fairly sufficient.
Moments later he dropped in ache, holding his left leg after dashing a second and unsuccessfully trying to proceed his innings after remedy.
Doomed mission
He reluctantly hobbled off and took England’s authority with him.
Jacks continued his spectacular latest kind however England failed to attain a boundary for greater than 10 overs after Buttler’s exit.
Ahmed was bounced out for a duck, Atkinson made a scratchy 16 and Overton bunted a full toss staight up.
That introduced Buttler again into the fray in clear discomfort, however it was a doomed mission.
Ehsan Malinga and Madushanka closed issues out as Jacks and Buttler had been caught on the ropes, leaving the pursuit to run aground on 305 for 9.
READ MORE: Will Jacks powers England to opening ODI win over Sri Lanka
